Amtrak provides passenger rail service to San Diego via the Pacific Surfliner route, one of the busiest passenger rail corridors in the United States. This coastal route offers travelers a convenient and scenic alternative to driving on congested Southern California highways. The Pacific Surfliner serves two stations within San Diego city limits: the historic Santa Fe Depot in downtown and the Old Town Transportation Center. This article provides comprehensive information about Amtrak’s service to San Diego, including station details, schedules, onboard amenities, and ticketing information.
Pacific Surfliner Route Overview
The Pacific Surfliner operates along a 351-mile route through six counties in Southern California: San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo. The route hugs the majestic California coastline for significant portions of the journey, offering passengers spectacular ocean views that are not visible from the adjacent highways.
The Pacific Surfliner is Amtrak’s third busiest route nationally, serving 29 stations between San Diego and San Luis Obispo. The southern terminus of the route is in downtown San Diego at the Santa Fe Depot, with the Old Town Transportation Center serving as the penultimate stop. From San Diego, the route continues north through coastal communities including Oceanside, San Clemente, and Anaheim before reaching Los Angeles. Beyond Los Angeles, the route extends to Santa Barbara and ultimately San Luis Obispo.
While the Pacific Surfliner is the only Amtrak route directly serving San Diego, passengers can connect to other Amtrak routes at Los Angeles Union Station, including the Coast Starlight (to Seattle), the Southwest Chief (to Chicago), and the Sunset Limited (to New Orleans).
San Diego Amtrak Stations
Santa Fe Depot (SAN)
The Santa Fe Depot, located at 1050 Kettner Boulevard in downtown San Diego, serves as the southern terminus of the Pacific Surfliner route. Constructed to welcome visitors to the 1915 Panama-California Exposition, this historic station is a city landmark known for its soaring towers and tiled domes. The Spanish Colonial Revival architecture makes it one of the most distinctive train stations in the Amtrak system.
The Santa Fe Depot is a full-service station with a staffed ticket office and a comfortable indoor waiting area. Station amenities include:
- ATM
- Restrooms (accessible)
- Amtrak ticketing kiosks
- Vending machines
- Bag storage
- Baggage assistance from station staff for carry-on luggage
The station is accessible to passengers with disabilities, featuring an accessible platform, restrooms, ticket office, waiting room, and water fountain. A wheelchair lift is available, though the station does not have an elevator.
While the station itself does not have dedicated parking, there are several paid parking options nearby. Passengers are advised to arrive at least 45 minutes prior to departure if checking baggage or needing ticketing assistance, or at least 30 minutes prior if not checking baggage.
The Santa Fe Depot waiting room is open daily from 12:00 AM to 1:00 AM and 3:00 AM to 11:59 PM.
Old Town Transportation Center (OLT)
The Old Town Transportation Center, located at 4005 Taylor Street, serves as the second Amtrak station in San Diego. This station is within walking distance of Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, which explores the city’s early development, and Presidio Park, the site of an early Spanish fort.
Unlike the Santa Fe Depot, the Old Town Transportation Center is an unstaffed platform-only station with more limited amenities:
- ATM available
- Payphones
- Vending machines
- No restrooms
- No ticketing kiosks or ticket office
- No checked baggage service
The station does feature an accessible platform, accessible restrooms, accessible waiting room, and accessible water fountain. A wheelchair lift is available, though there is no wheelchair service at this unstaffed station.
No dedicated station parking is available at the Old Town Transportation Center. Passengers using this station are advised to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to departure.
As a platform-only facility, there are no station waiting room hours at this location.
Schedule and Service Information
The Pacific Surfliner provides frequent daily service between San Diego and points north. As of March 31, 2025, the route offers an expanded schedule with more travel options between Los Angeles and San Diego.
Service Frequency
The Pacific Surfliner operates 11 daily round trips between San Diego and Los Angeles, with five of these trips extending to Santa Barbara and beyond. This frequency provides travelers with multiple departure options throughout the day.
Recent schedule expansions have added new services, including:
- A new southbound Train 566 departing Los Angeles Union Station daily at 8:10 AM, making all Pacific Surfliner station stops and arriving at the Downtown San Diego Amtrak Station at 11:07 AM.
- A new northbound Train 579 departing the Downtown San Diego Amtrak Station daily at 1:01 PM, stopping at all Pacific Surfliner stations except San Clemente Pier and arriving at Los Angeles Union Station at 3:57 PM.
Travel Times
Typical travel times on the Pacific Surfliner route are:
- San Diego to Los Angeles: approximately 2 hours 45 minutes
- San Diego to Santa Barbara: approximately 5-6 hours
- San Diego to San Luis Obispo: approximately 9 hours
Service Advisories
Travelers should be aware that ongoing construction work on the Del Mar Bluffs may cause periodic schedule changes on Sunday nights through Tuesday mornings, affecting service to and from Downtown San Diego’s Santa Fe Depot and Old Town San Diego stations.
Thruway Connections
Service on the northern end of the Pacific Surfliner route is supplemented with Amtrak Thruway bus service, providing connections to destinations not directly served by the train. These buses are coordinated with train schedules to provide seamless connections.
Onboard Amenities and Services
The Pacific Surfliner offers a comfortable travel experience with a variety of amenities for passengers.
Standard Amenities (Coach Class)
All Pacific Surfliner trains feature:
- Comfortable, reclining seats
- Power outlets at every window seat
- Free Wi-Fi (supporting general web browsing)
- Restrooms
- Bike and luggage racks
- Large picture windows
- Dropdown tray tables
- Footrests
- Overhead lights
Market Café
The Pacific Surfliner offers an onboard café with a variety of food and beverage options. Located in the lower level of Car 3, the Market Café features:
- A variety of snacks and light meals
- Soft drinks, coffee, and tea
- Alcoholic beverages including wine, cocktails, and local craft beer
- A rotating selection of products from California’s top breweries and wineries
- Grab-and-go meal options
Business Class Upgrade
Passengers can upgrade to Business Class for an enhanced travel experience with additional perks:
- Refreshed interiors with new seat upholstery, carpet, and curtains
- Reclining, cushioned leather seats with added legroom
- Less foot-traffic for a more private setting
- Complimentary snacks and drinks:
- Morning service: coffee, tea, water, juice, and pastries from local bakeries
- Afternoon service: snack pack, soft drink, glass of wine, or 12-ounce can of lager
- Guaranteed seating (particularly valuable on busy trains)
- Dedicated attendant on most trains
- 25% qualifying point bonus for Amtrak Guest Rewards members
- Priority boarding at the Santa Fe Depot in San Diego
Additional Services
The Pacific Surfliner accommodates passengers with various needs:
- Pet travel: Small pets are allowed with a $29 advanced reservation
- Bike accommodations: Free bike reservation available (spaces are limited)
- Wi-Fi connectivity: Connect to “AmtrakConnect” network (not suitable for streaming or large downloads)
- Accessibility features for passengers with disabilities
Ticketing and Booking Information
Booking Options
Tickets for the Pacific Surfliner can be purchased through multiple channels:
- Online at Amtrak.com or PacificSurfliner.com
- Amtrak mobile app
- Staffed station ticket offices (available at Santa Fe Depot)
- By phone at 800-USA-RAIL
Fare Types
The Pacific Surfliner offers two main fare types:
- Unreserved Coach: Flexible tickets valid for any Pacific Surfliner train within a 30-day period
- Business Class: Reserved tickets for specific trains with additional amenities
Recommendations for Busy Travel Periods
Business Class seats are limited on each train, so early booking is recommended, especially during busy travel periods such as:
- Comic-Con
- Summer Del Mar Racing Season
- Major holidays
- Summer weekends
Amtrak Guest Rewards
Frequent travelers can join Amtrak Guest Rewards to earn points toward future travel. Business Class passengers earn a 25% point bonus on their trips.
Travel Tips for San Diego Amtrak Passengers
Arrival Recommendations
- For Santa Fe Depot: Arrive at least 45 minutes prior to departure if checking baggage or needing ticketing assistance, or at least 30 minutes prior if not checking baggage
- For Old Town Transportation Center: Arrive at least 30 minutes prior to departure
Baggage Policies
- Santa Fe Depot offers bag storage and baggage assistance for carry-on items
- Neither San Diego station offers checked baggage service
- Each passenger may bring two personal items and two carry-on bags aboard
Accessibility Services
Both San Diego stations offer accessible platforms and wheelchair lifts. The Santa Fe Depot also provides accessible restrooms, ticket office, waiting room, and water fountain.
Pet and Bicycle Policies
- Small pets can travel for a $29 fee with advance reservation
- Bicycles can be brought aboard with a free reservation (spaces are limited)
Wi-Fi Usage Guidelines
The onboard Wi-Fi supports general web browsing but not high-bandwidth activities such as streaming movies or downloading large files. Passengers are advised to download entertainment content before boarding.
Conclusion
Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner provides frequent, convenient service to San Diego with stops at two stations: the historic Santa Fe Depot downtown and the Old Town Transportation Center. With multiple daily departures, comfortable amenities, and scenic coastal views, the train offers an attractive alternative to driving in Southern California’s congested corridors.
Recent schedule expansions have increased the frequency of service between Los Angeles and San Diego, providing even more options for travelers. Whether visiting for business or leisure, passengers can enjoy the comfort and convenience of train travel while taking in the spectacular Southern California coastline.
For the most current information on schedules, fares, and service updates, travelers should consult Amtrak.com or PacificSurfliner.com before their journey.
References
- Amtrak. “Pacific Surfliner Train.” https://www.amtrak.com/pacific-surfliner-train
- Pacific Surfliner. “Train Schedules and Service Information.” https://www.pacificsurfliner.com/plan-your-trip/schedules/
- Amtrak. “San Diego, CA – Santa Fe Depot (SAN) .” https://www.amtrak.com/stations/san
- Amtrak. “San Diego, CA – Old Town Transportation Center (OLT) .” https://www.amtrak.com/stations/olt
- Pacific Surfliner. “The Onboard Experience.” https://www.pacificsurfliner.com/onboard/
- Pacific Surfliner. “Upgrade to Business Class.” https://www.pacificsurfliner.com/onboard/business-class/
- Pacific Surfliner. “Market Cafe.” https://www.pacificsurfliner.com/onboard/market-cafe/
- Pacific Surfliner. “Onboard Power & Wi-Fi.” https://www.pacificsurfliner.com/onboard/power-and-wifi/